Republican Senate Majority leader Scott Fitzgerald was so shocked to find himself the victim of an outrageously successful recall effort that he leaped at the earliest opportunity to make the public petition records "extra" public by posting a searchable pdf of the signatures on his campaign website. He calls on citizens to "verify" that their names are "not on the signature list" to recall him and asks that they contact his staff (by emailing contact@votefitzgerald.com) if they are.

This generous request presents an opportunity for the 20,000+ citizens in Senate District 13 to verify that their names do, indeed, appear on the recall petitions that were submitted to the GAB and to thank the good Senator for providing this public opportunity to ensure that he is lawfully recalled.

One such citizen, a recall organizer who has already been the target of harassment and attacks of vandalism, took advantage of this opportunity to thank Senator Fitzgerald:

I appreciate that like other Republican Senators facing recall you have posted a searchable pdf on your website so that people can "verify" if their name is on the petition.

I'm sure you would like to know that sincerely hardworking citizens such as myself are less than amused that you've chosen to take time and resources to make this public record information "extra" public by making it searchable.

Being the recipient of 4 flat tires during the recall efforts did not deter me from working tirelessly to successfully expose who you truly are; that is a senator who does not have the interests of his constituents in his best interest, and this "scare tactic" will not deter the more than 20,000 concerned citizens of SD-13 who signed your recall petition and feel as I do.

Perhaps instead of wasting tax payers resources, such as the more than $18,000 in per diems you used for food and gas to travel an hour to and from work last year, you could use your remaining time in office to finally put the interest of the people in your senate district above the interests of yourself, for once.

Yes, I signed AND circulated petitions to recall Senator Scott Fitzgerald,

Sarah Niemann Hammer

And this one from Julie Wells, the woman who filed the papers with the Government Accountability Board to recall Scott Walker, who happens to also be a constituent of Senate District 13:

Dear Senator Fitz,

I want to thank you for the opportunity to be sure my signature is still on the petition I signed to recall you. I would have liked it a lot better however, had you listened to the concern of these voters and redacted the addresses. As you know there are a lot of people in this state who do not see anything wrong with harassment and intimidation of other people who do not agree with them. I hope none of them take it a step further and actually harm anyone. I circulated petitions and had more than one person concerned that they could lose their job if their boss found out. Did you think about the battered women living in shelters for fear they may be killed if found? I think not. I would have felt more trusting of you had you chosen not to put the addresses online. Your supporters could verify that their name is not on the petition without the address. Did you do this as a way to intimidate? One can only wonder. This just proves that you still do not think about ALL the people you were elected to represent, only those that blindly follow you. I have already received my first intimidating email about the recall. I will be forwarding all that I receive to you so that you might get the true picture of what life is like on the outside. Thank you for reinforcing my reasons and my desire to recall you!

- Julie Wells

This letter comes from another SD13 resident, who thanks the Senator for helping the recall effort by posting this volunteer database and doing all the data entry work (I'm wondering myself if this shouldn't earn the Senator one of the coveted "I HELPED RECALL FITZ" buttons):

Dear Senator Scott Fitzgerald,

Thank you Senator Fitzgerald for posting a searchable data base on recall petitions. You just saved the wonderful volunteers who along with myself, worked so hard to recall you, a lot of work in our own data base, to help find more volunteers to work in the election campaign against you.

I was also concerned for myself that in all the hard work, that I may have forgotten to sign. Now I see that I did indeed sign the petition to recall you, so I thank you again. I also was so happy to see a couple of my friends that are swing voters had also signed the petition, this made me even more confident that the recall effort will succeed.

Senator Fitzgerald, your attack on the hard working people of Wisconsin and misrepresentation of the constituents of Senate Distract 13 is heading in the right direction, your Recall. Senator Fitzgerald your pink slip is coming.

Sincerely,
John Clark

Thanks to Sarah, Julie and John for sharing their wonderfully open letters! Readers in the other senate districts might also consider taking the opportunity to verify that their names are being counted in the petitions:

In Senate District 21, you can check the petitions here and send your thanks to Van Wanggaardhere or call (262) 930-6503.

In Senate District 29, you can check the petitions here and send your thanks Pam Gallowayhere or call (715) 305-4331.

Saw someone who had signed the Scott Walker recall (as I did) who wasn't to pleased about having his name and address made public, turn the tables - by posting Scott Walker's (and his family's) home address. I would suggest the same thing be done for all of these Republican legislators who have chosen to publicly post signers names.

There is a procedure for how recalls are to be verified. It does not involve making the names of recall petitions made public. For supposedly being such sticklers on procedure (remember all the quiet observers being removed from the gallery for displaying copies of the constitution, or trying to record the proceedings?), the Republicans seem to have no regard for established procedures - when they don't work to their favor.

Readers should note that this is the official mailing address provided on the Scott Fitzgerald campaign site; it is not his home address (as far as I know). And while Senator Fitzgerald may not care how far he crosses the line in violating the privacy of his constituents, but I do not advocate it myself. And anyway, aren't THEY supposed to be the party of "limited government" and "personal liberty?" Not so much.

Ms. L, your post is brilliant. Thanks for sharing it! "Political abuse" and intimidation is exactly right. And I couldn't agree more with the Anonymous comment; the hypocrisy of their sometimes-defense of procedure and the law has long ago reached absurd proportions.

I personally feel that if they want to question any signatures on the petitions, we should get a car pool together and visit Scottie F's election office. I have my ID and I should start to learn how to use it to prove I am who I am...especially with elections coming up and voter ID required.

I believe only the GAB can actually take your name off the petition. Fitzgerald can only make a claim. If you signed with a phone number or email, it will be easy for the GAB to contact you to verify that your signature is really you. I would imagine, but am not sure, that if your name has also been on the voting rolls, they could check those also. To sign, you had to note your address. They can/will send a card asking for verification if you been otherwise contacted.

I agree it is atrocious that they published these names, particularly in a searchable database. Yet I think I might write them a letter thanking them. This database of names and addresses will save the Recall Campaign hours and hours of work assembling a database of citizens ready and willing to vote these criminals out of office!

Thank you for every other wonderful article. The place else may just anybody get that kind of info in such a perfect approach of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I am on the look for such info.Banks 63739 Six-Gun Diesel Tuner for Chevy '04-'05

the MoD motto:

If you don't have anything nice to say, you've identified a topic about which you are morally obligated to speak.Raise your hand if you're not afraid to ask a question.Raise your voice if you're not afraid of free speech.Raise some hell if you're not afraid to change the world.

Followers

Support citizen watchdoggery.

Help keep MoD in business. It's hard to find time to blog when you're always looking for more side jobs.
To sweeten the pot: for every contribution, I'll send a letter to Gov. Walker on the topic of your choice.